"The Christine Jorgensen Show" a Charming Chapter in the Trans-Cultural Revolution
Wednesday, October 30th, New York City
written by Entertainment Editor, Dan Ruth
Most celebrities would give anything for Christine Jorgensen’s publicity, but if you were Christine Jorgensen, you'd be apt to avoid the press who would "chase her like a foxhunt." If you’re not familiar with the name, you’re not alone. Over half a century has past since she first set high heels back on US soil, but thanks to the charms of Donald Steven Olson’s The Christine Jorgensen Show, she has returned from the ether, just in time to reemerge in a world brimming with those who still seethe over personal choice and freedom. Many familiar with queer history will know of this former Army GI, but those who remain uneducated on the subject of personal identity and choice, will have certainly never heard of the woman that started it all off. Long before gay liberation, before Wigstock and the drag explosion, before the trans movement seared itself into the political landscape, all the way back to the 1950's, George Jorgensen, Jr. was quietly daring to question his sexually assigned gender and identity. Little did he know that when he re-emerged from his gender surgery in Denmark, it was "she" that would cause such a media circus. After a family member leaked the story to The New York Daily News, and in the face of adversity and persecution, Jorgensen’s star was born. She shared front-page news with Eisenhower, mesmerized a majority of the world and for the others that continued to meddle, she succeeded in “scaring them more than the atom bomb.”
The Christine Jorgensen Show is set in a quiet and dark rehearsal studio, owned by one Myles Bell (Mark Nadler), and zeroes in on Ms. Jorgensen (Jesse James Keitel) and her talent as a stage performer, or lack thereof. Based on a true story, Jorgensen, who was offered an engagement at The Sahara in Las Vegas, only to have it retracted due to “false pretenses” after the realization that “she” was at some point a “he,” Jorgensen seeks the tutelage of Bell, to craft a cabaret act. Myles Bell’s performance light may have dimmed, and his name blacklisted, but thanks to this chance meeting with Jorgensen, emotional sparks begin to fly and the onion to peel. Viewed by many as an immoral deviant, Jorgensen bears herself and her history to Bell in this touching, honest and often hilarious musical play. From Jorgensen’s shy demeanor to Bell’s flamboyant vaudevillian prowess, this odd couple succeeds in brightening the stage with color, music and charm. To those who still experience empathy, and sparing you spoilers, let’s just say that there is something captivating about two people exposing their personal souls to one another; scars, fears, garters and all, and what begins in a dim and lonely rehearsal room, climaxes in a dazzling, warm and heart-felt cabaret act. Mark Nadler is simply astonishing in the role of Myles Bell. Those familiar with New York City cabaret know the multi award-winning Nadler from his years of spellbinding performances from Sardis, to Carnegie Hall and every performance space in between. His highly explosive and unparalleled performance approach is well at hand in The Christine Jorgensen Show, but what is vastly different here, is his tender and highly detailed nuances that gets to the root of his growing feelings for Jorgensen. Jesse James Keitel is spot on as Jorgensen and if you’ll pardon the pun, she's pitch-perfect. There is quite a difficult task here for the highly talented Keitel, to take on a roll of a person with lesser talent. Keitel is an elegant and mesmerizing match for Nadler and together, they are the epitome of why show people do what they do. The music, composed by Olson and Nadler is delightful as it is poignant, and as for sparks flying, you’re going to want to see the display for yourself when you get a ticket to this winning production at Here. What The Christine Jorgensen Show has going for it as an entertainment, is upstaged only by its desire to break down walls and barriers between the perceived world and that of personal choice and authenticity.
Considering that Jorgensen still stands as one of the first spirited souls to bring upon the sexual revolution, there is indeed a history lesson here. It’s not surprising to see an audience of an age that would recognize Jorgensen, but what I found surprising is the lack of young queer and trans people present to witness this wilderness of such previously uncharted trans territory. In a world populated with 15 second Instagram and TikTok posts by those that have reaped the benefits of such pioneers, The Christine Jorgensen Show stands tall in reminding its audience to remember those who came before, to shine a light and to be proud of the history. As Bell croons so eloquently, “don’t stand in the dark, pretty baby.”
The Christine Jorgensen Show is beautifully directed by Michael Barakiva and is not to be missed. The show runs through Sunday, November 3rd at Here in New York City.
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